b/w with Epson 2100/2200

[alexramsay]

Has anyone got advice on obtaining neutral b/w prints off an Epson 2100 (2200)? I use Archival Matte with matte black ink, PSCS on a Mac G4 running 10.3.9. I've tried using GrayBalancer with slightly more success, but that only works under OS9, which means printing from an old version of Photoshop - not ideal. Also, I use a calibrated monitor and my colour prints appear to match the monitor image pretty closely. However my monochrome images (scanned from b/w neg) do not. If I try to print from Photoshop (profile/no colour adjustment) I get a greenish cast on my grayscale images which does not appear on screen. I'd be very grateful for any suggestions - thanks.

Alex

[picnic]

Has anyone got advice on obtaining neutral b/w prints off an Epson 2100 (2200)? I use Archival Matte with matte black ink, PSCS on a Mac G4 running 10.3.9. I've tried using GrayBalancer with slightly more success, but that only works under OS9, which means printing from an old version of Photoshop - not ideal. Also, I use a calibrated monitor and my colour prints appear to match the monitor image pretty closely. However my monochrome images (scanned from b/w neg) do not. If I try to print from Photoshop (profile/no colour adjustment) I get a greenish cast on my grayscale images which does not appear on screen. I'd be very grateful for any suggestions - thanks.

Alex
[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Alex, I bet you get a reddish tone too under certain lights---metamerism with the inks from the 2200.  I switched to Quadtone RIP which pretty much eliminates metamerism.  Its a quite reasonably priced RIP for just mono prints
[a href=\"http://harrington.com/QuadToneRIP.html]http://harrington.com/QuadToneRIP.html[/url]

 There is also a great maillist totally focused on b/w printing and you will probably get excellent advice there
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint/

 Before I used QTR I often toned my prints or used duotones to offset the metamerism--never really found any other solution without using either the RIP or toning.  I understand the new K3 inks in the newer printers are much much better for b/w.

Diane

[johnbeardy]

Alex,

Like Diane I'd point you in the direction of black and white inks. I was never happy until I started using them - IMHO GrayBalancer was an utter waste of time. Also like Diane I made a virtue out of necessity and printed split tone.

Over here in the UK I'd recommend Permajet's MonochromePro inkset. They're pigment-based and are available both as continuous flow and also as cartridges, great if your printing volumes are low and you can't justify dedicated colour and mono printers. I'm not sure if these inks are available elsewhere.

John

ps thanks for the Yahoo link Diane - it led me to http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm

[alexramsay]

Dear Diane - thank you very much indeed. QTR is very simple to use and appears to have solved the problem immediately. Thanks again!

Alex

[filip baraka]

im using this tehnique from LL site and it works for me
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/...s/2200-bw.shtml

as You, before all i could get was greenish cast with 2200 but now, prints are quite neutral and day DO stand a chance compared to prints with imageprint, actually i even got more shadow detail but i compared to only one print because im only demoing imageprint...

HTH

[alexramsay]

re QTR - I've only had an opportunity to make small test prints so far, but the prints appear very slightly more 'grainy' (despite printing at 1440 super) than when using the Epson driver. Am I imagining this, or has anyone else had this experience?

Alex

[jdyke]

First thing let me give you a word of comfort - the 2200 can produce exceptional b&w prints.

Now for the reality check - you will need to use something like QTR or Imageprint to get the best prints.  You can get neutral prints without these RIPs but you will need to do a fair bit of fiddling.  Basically you will need to print off test strips with more or less of a certain ink unitl you are happy.  Yellow ink is normally the killer and is reduced a fair bit by most of the RIP's.

The other thing I would advise is that you try some different papers.  EEH is ok but I did not get that greatest b&w with it.  

I have a 2100 (2200) and now print on the Innova Fibre Gloss (Permajet and Chau Digital do a very similar paper).  

Ok so I do print through Imageprint but the results are outstanding.  

I do have to spray the prints though to help with bronzing and gloss differential but this IMHO is a minor issue.

If you want to stick to matte can I suggest you try some other papers such as Hahnumhule Photorag or one one of the art papers (moab, Arches, Somerset, Innova are all good papers)

Hope this helps

JD

JD